Power-transmitting mechanism.



PATENTED MAR. 10, I908. F. R. 8: G. E. S. BURCH. I POWER TRANSMITTING MECHANISM.

APPLIOATION PIL ED JUNE 11, 1907.

W I a hi 6 y w a W M n. Dn 2 m I E ,1 A M 2 W P 3 W/TNESSES:

UNITED STATES P rENT OFFICE.

FREDERICK R. BURCH AND CHARLES E. S. BURCH/OF SEATTLE, WASHINGTON.

POWEB -TRANSIHTTING MECEANTSM.

Specification of Lettere Patent. Application filed June 11, 19f". Serial No. 378,351.

Patented March 10, 1908.

the county of King andState of Washington,

have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Power-Transmitting Mechanism, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings. v

This invention relates to power transmission mechanism, and while it is adapted to a number of applications it is articularly intended for use upon motor diiven vehicles.

The object of the invention is the provision of improved mechanism whereby a uniform rotaryl motion of a driving shaft ma a y t a be efi'ectu r nsmitted to a driven sha t so as to produce various predetermined speeds to t elatter and in the same or reverse directions. v

With this and other-ends in view the in vention consists in the novel construction, adaptation and combination of parts as will be. hereinafter described and claimed.

a In said drawings, Figure 1 is a plan view, partly in section, of devices embodying our invention and Fig. 2, an end elevation of.

the same which is also shown tron.

In these drawings, the reference numeral partly in sec- 5 designates a power or motor-shaft which shaft 5.

has mounted thereon, as by a keyway 5 and a spline, a wheel 6 which is adapted to make frictional engagement upon its diametrically o osite sides with friction-disks 7. These is are respectively mounted upon sleeves 8, which, in turn, are rotatably mounted upon an axle 9 arran ed to have its axis in the same plane with ut rectangular to the The" disks are keyed, as by'splines 10, to

the respective sleeves and are normally levers .16; which are capable of being acturollers against the to effect the above noted fimction,but if not,

1 ated towithdraw the djsks from their frictional en agement with the driving wheel while the l atter is being shifted into various positions radially of the disks for the purpose of varying the speed of the driven elements. These adjustments of the driving wheel are conveniently attained b a forked lever 17 engaging the horns 18 o a ring 18 which is .fitte between collets upon the wheel-hub 6'.

While the afore-described frictional elements may be constructed of various shapes, they are preferably formed to have their engaging faces somewhat conicalthus rendermg the opposing faces of the disks at eater distances apart at their perimeters t an in proximity of their commori axis and consequently necessitates the disks being forced further apart to accommodate the driving wheel, the closer the latter is operated to such axis and compression 01K-the springs to increase their reactive power to compensate for the inereasgd duty to which they are thereby sube cte fThe levers 16 are fulcrumed by pivots Hi to suitably disposed rigid supports and, advantageously, .to the bracket-arms 19 of bearing boxes 19- which are" provided for the axle 9. These levers are connected by the employment of toggle-Jinks 20 connecting an operating rod 20' with the lever-arms upon one'side of their respective fulcrums.

The opposite arms 16" carry rollers '21 adapted to be peripherally eng ed with the reverse faces of the friction-dis in proximity oftheir peripheries and serve to sustain these disks against accidental displacement and also to overcome the tilting action due to the unbalanced frictional. engagement of the disks.

Ordinarily the aka with suflicient force then supplementary power may be had by actuating the levers in a contra direction to that necessary to effect the wit drawal of the rollers from the disks and the latter from the dri wheel.

Inte with the respective sleeves 10 am tooth pinions 18' extending interiorly ofa casing 22 and into. which extends a shaft 23 arranged to be in alinement'w'ith the power shaft 5. The shaft 23 rotatabl bus -24 which is ada tedto adjusted; longitudinally thereof as y a forked lever 25 0pc ively' connected by th horna'26' of a carries. a 110 proportionately increasing the 11 willurge the ring 26 positioned within an annular groove in the periphery of the bushing. Fixedlymounted upon the bushing are tooth gear wheels 27 and 27 adapted for engagement with the pinions 10, but spaced apart so that but one of 'them can be put into engagement with the pinions at the same time.

To afford a journal support for the bushing 24 which carries the gear-wheels, we enlarge the axle centrally of its length and bore the boss '9 thus formed to house anti-friction bearing devices such as rolls 28 and. an internal tubular member 28 confined between cover plates 29 detachabl connected to the ends of the boss. From his connection between the shaft 23 and the axle 11 which is journaled in boxes 19. the shaft is free to be tilted about the axis of the axle without 't-urbing the relation of the gear wheels with respect to their pinions, while end-play of the axle is obviated by set collars '3Q acting against the boxes 119, and such collars also serve to overcome the outward pressure put upon the boxes through the manipulation of the levers 16 when operating the rollers 21 with an considerable strain against the friction dis s. p I

. The driving wheel 6 has its periphery faced with leather or other suitable material as at" 6 to ,rovide. an effective frictional contact "and the rollers 21 may in like manner be pro- I vided with flexible tires 21 whereby the disks are yieldingly held to their work.

The operation of the invention may be ex- 7 piained as followst When the shaft 5 rotates it imparts through the friction wheel 6 motion to the friction disks 7 so that they rotate inopposite directions and, as will be understood, at relative velocities depending 'upon the-distance from the axis of the disks at which the wheelis operating. The pinions '8 are rotated coincidently with said friction disks and when'they are in mesh with either of the gear wheels 27 or 27 the shaft 23 is accordingly rotated in'one direction -or the other, that is to say, assuming that when the pinions are engaing the wheel 27, as illus-i trated in Fig. 1, t e shaft 23 is driven to impart a forward motion to a vehicle, for example, when the opposite or'reverse motion ]would be obt'ai-ne'd'through the disengage ment of the wheel 27 and the bringing of the other wheel, 27, into couple with the pinions. These changes in the direction of the rotary motions of the driven shaft would desirably be efiected while the friction'disks are retfacted from the drivin' wheel so that the motion of the pinion wil be discontinued, or

nearly so, to permit the'toothed elements being coupled without'danger of mutilation.

The retraction of the disks above referred to is .dccomplishedby properly operating the levers 16 aslalready described.

The invention is quite strnation. is eflicient n operation and is readsimple in its con senses ily'eontrolled to produce changes of speed and also transmit motion in two rotary directions.

Among the advantages presented by our"- invention may be noted first, its adaptability to service on automobiles to do the range of work above alluded to, and also to the main ner in which the component parts are assembled, and permitting the driven'shaftnot only to be movedin an axial direction but also-0f accommodating itself to various inclinations with regard to .the power shaft. The functions just referred to eliminate the necessity of using universal joints in the power transmitting connections also, by the use of the frictional driving mechanism, the changes in speed can be made so as to gradually accelerateor retard the same; the elimination of theuse of clutohes which would be essential werepositively driven members alone emplo ed, and a further advantage is had by the s ip-joint connection between the driven shaft and the bnshirig which carries the ears thereby allowing variations in lengt li. v

What we claimas our invention, is-

1. In combination with the power shaft, a

driving wheel on said shaft,two disks ada ted to be frictionallydrivcn by said whee a pair of toothed pinions rotated by the respec tive' disks, an axle carrying said disks and pinions and furnishing a support for a driven shaft, a pair of toothed gears carried by the driven shaft and arranged to be severally engaged with both the'said pinions, and means 'or efiecting such engagements.

2. In combination with the power shaft, a driving wheel mounted upon said shaft so as to be movable longitudinally .thereof, means for eifecting such adjustments, a pair of disks arranged to be frictioirally driven by the wheel and normally enga ement therewith, means for simultaneous y disen aging the disks from the wheel, a. driven shart, m echanical driving connections between said disks and the driven shaft, such connections being adapted to transmit the non-reversible rotary motions of the disks into two reversidriven shaft extending through said axle, 'twotoothed gear wheels upon the driven shaft and respectively positioned upon'op o--" site sides of the axle, and means where y:l30

either of said gear wheels maybe simultane-' ously' meshed with both of said pinions or disengaged, therefrom.

4.' In apparatus oft-he class described, the

combination with a wheel, and a pair of disks adapted to be frictionally driven thereby, rollers acting againstwsaid disks, levers-carrying therollers, link connections-between the disks and the res ective levers, and means for controlling; t e' action of said levers whereby said rollers areengaged with or dis-.

enga ed from the disks and the latter coincie dent (moved towardor from said wheel. (I if 5; i

. disks aditpted to be frictionally driven there.

apparatus of the class described, the combination with a Wheel, and a pair of by, of springs for yieldingly retaining the (llSkS'lD engagement with the wheel, levers, link connections 'between thedisks and. the

respective levers, and means for'controlling' the action of sai'dlevers whereby the dlsks are moved towardoi from said wheel.

I 6. In apparatus of the class described, the

combin ation with a wheel, and a pair of disks adapted to be frictionally driven thereby, of

springs for yieldingly retaining the disks in are engaged with "or-disengaged from the .disks and the latter eoincidently moved toengagement with the wheel, rollers acting against said disks, levers earrying, the rollers, link connections between the disks and the respective levers, andj-ineans forcontrolling the action of said leve'rs whereby said rollers wardor, from said wheel;

7. The combination with the frictional disks, the driving wheel therefor, the axle carrying said disks the bearings for said axle,

levers fulcrumedon said bearings andmeans as prevent the spreading apart of said bear- 'ings, of'springs for retaining the disks norr nally in yielding engagement with the driv- 'ing wheel, supplementary means carried by' thelevers for retaining the disks in such engagement, rand means for controlling theact1on of said levers. 8. In combinatioma ower shaft, a wheel jrjotatably carried ,by sai shaft, means for adjusting the position of the wheel longitudie nally 'ofth'e shaft, an axle arranged trans-, vrsely" of the, power shaft and adapted to be fi eely oscillated two sleeves mounted upon ,the'gaxle and capableof independent rotary motlom'two disks rotatable with the respective sleeves and adapted to be moved longitudinally thereof, means'comprising rollers carried by levers for exerting pressure against shaft, a

'the-fdisksin opposition to" said wheel, ,a

"toothed pinion for each saidsleeve, a driven ushing carried upon this shaft and adapted for movement longitudinally thereof, said bushing extending through a housing provided in the axle,-a pair of toothed gears fixedly secured toisaid bushing and disposedso as to be individually and interchangeably engaged with both of said pinions, and means to cause the longitudinal movement oh the bushing for ,effecting the engagement of either. of the toothed gears.

9. In combination, a owershaft, awheel rotatably carried by sai shaft, means for adjusting the position of the wheel longitudiver'sely of the ,power shaft and adapted tobe nally of the shaft, an axle arranged trans freelyosoillated, two sleeves mounted upon the axle and capable of independent rotary motion, two disks rotatable with the respecti-ve sleeves and adapted to be moved longituv di'iially thereof, means comprising rollers car;

ried. by levers for exerting pressure against the disks in opposition to said wheel, a toothed ushing carriedupon this shaft and adapted for movement longitudinally thereof, said bush-- ingextending-through a housing provided in the axle, anti-friction journal-bearings for the bushing and located within said housing, a

pairof toothed gears fixedly secured to said inion for each said sleeve, a driven shaft, a

ushing and disposed so as to be individually and interchangeably engaged with both of said pinions, and means to cause the longi tudinal movement of the bushing for effecting' theengagement of either of'the toothed" 10. In combination, a power shaft, a wheel rotatably carried bysaid shaft, means for adjusting the position of the wheel longitudinally of the shaft, an axle arranged trans versely of thepower shaft and adapted to be freely oscillated, two sleeves mounted upon the axle and capable'of independent rotary motion,- two disks rotatable-with the respecagainst the di sks'in opposition to said wheel, a toothed pinion for each said sleeve, a driven" shaft, a bushing carried upon this;shaft and adapted for movement long tudinally thereof, said bushing extendingthrough-:a. housing igiovided in the axle, a pair of toothed gears edly secured to said bushing and'disposed so as to .be individually and interchangeably engaged with both of said pinions, and means" to cause the longitudinal movement of the bushing for: effecting the engagement 'of either of the toothed gears.

' 11. In combination, a power shaft, a wheel versely of the power shaft and adapted to be rotatably carried by said shaft, means for adjusting the position of the wheel longitudinally .of the shaft, an axle arranged transfreelyos'cillated, two sleeves mounted upon the axle and capable of independent rotary motion, two disks rotatable with the respective sleeves and adapted to be moved longitudinally' thereof, a spring for each of said disks and tending to press the same into frictional engagement with said Wheel, means for Withdrawing the disks from such engagea toothed pinion for each said sleeve, a driven shaft, a bushing carried upon this shaft and adapted for movement longitudinally thereof, said bushing extending through a housing provided in the axle, anti-friction journalbearings forthe bushing and located within said housing, a pair of toothed gears fixedly senses secured to said bushing and disposed so as to be individually and interchangeably engaged With both of said inions, and means to cause the longitudina movement of the bushing for eiiectingthe engagement of either of the toothed gears. In testimony whereof We aflix our signaturesin presence of two Witnesses.

' FREDERICK R. BURCH.

CHARLES E. S. BURCH. Witnessesz.

' PIERRE BARNES,

HO ACE BARNES. 

